Alkalinity vs. Acidity

The concept of alkalinity is becoming more well-known now than ever before. Many people suffer from inflammation that leads to dis-ease, pain and a multitude of other health problems.  While the body can actually be too alkaline, it’s more typical for people to be overly acidic.

So with every bite of food you consume, you are either contributing to a healthier or an un-healthier you... after all, we are what we eat, right?  

So if you are eating fast food, processed food, microwaved food or the S.A.D., you might want to rethink why you suffer from ailments and dis-eases like osteoporosis, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, stomach pain, muscle weakness, allergies, depression or even chronic and degenerative illness such as Lyme, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

It’s important to note that the pH value varies considerably within the body. Some parts are acidic, others are alkaline. There is no one set level. The stomach is loaded with hydrochloric acid, giving it a pH value between 2 and 3.5 (highly acidic). This is necessary to break down food.
On the other hand, human blood is constantly slightly alkaline, with a pH between 7.35 and 7.45, while your kidneys and lungs attempt to maintain a slightly alkaline pH of 7.4. 

So let's talk a bit about acid- ash and alkaline- ash forming foods and how they can be affecting your health. So what exactly does acid- ash and alkaline- ash mean and how do we know if we are eating healing and nurturing alkalized foods?

As you metabolize foods and obtain their energy (calories), they leave an ash as if you were burning them. Acidic ash makes your body acidic and alkaline ash makes it alkaline, easy enough.  However, keep in mind that if you tend to consume more acid- than alkaline-forming foods, your body pulls from its alkali reserves (like calcium) to maintain proper pH levels.

If you consider that acidic foods like coffee, oranges, vinegar, and lemons make the body acidic, you're right in part, although it's not quite that simple. Many foods can increase alkalinity by absorbing or neutralizing acidity, oranges & lemons, in particular, are remarkably able to balance the pH of the body. They enter the body as an acid, yet through the digestive process, they are changed into an alkali-ash food, so named because the process of digestion is similar to combustion. When lemon juice is "burned" or digested, the product is an "alkali ash."

Acidic ash foods include dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, grains, caffeine and alcohol, and consist primarily of protein, sulfur, and phosphate. Alkaline foods are typically fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, some nuts, and seeds, which are rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. 

To achieve alkalinity in the body, it's okay to eat a few foods from the acidic food list, but consume acidic foods mindfully,  as they should not be making up the principal part of your diet! Consider restricting these foods significantly while dramatically upping your intake of alkaline foods and then notice how your body feels and responds!